Rail-joint



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. CLOUD.

RAIL JOINT.

No. 592,865; Patented Nov. 2,1897.

Witnesses.

Attorney.

| PETzfis coi. Moro-map; WASHINGTON. u I:v

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. W. CLOUD.

RAIL JOINT Patented Nov. 2

Inventor.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOHN WILLS CLOUD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N 0. 592,865, dated November 2, 1897.

Application filed January 27, 1896. Serial No. 576,907. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN WILLs CLOUD, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook'and State of Illinois, have invented a new and usef ul Improvement in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a true and eXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification.

My invention relates to rail-joints, and has for its object to provide a joint of simple and cheap construction and which is adapted to preserve both the line and surface of the rails, and also to prevent creeping.

The nature of my improvements will be best understood'as described in connection with the drawings in which they are illustrated, and in which Figure 1 is a transverse section through my rail joint, constructed for the greatest strength, the section being taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side View of the same joint Fig. 3, a perspective view of the base-plate shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4, a perspective view of a slightly-modified form of base-plate. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 6, showing a modified form of joint. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the joint shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the base-plate shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is a cross-section through a rail-joint embodying a base-plate such as is shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a cross-section through a rail-joint embodying still another modification in the form of a base-plate, and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the base-plate shown in Fig. 9.

A indicates the rails, or being the head, a the web of the rail, and a a the base-flanges of the rail.

B, B, B and B indicate various modifications in the form of the base-plate, which is an essential element of my joint. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the base-plate is marked B. It is made, as shown, of sufficient length to be supported on adjacent ties F F, lying on each side of the joint, and is secured to the ties by spikes or bolts E, which in the figures referred to pass through holes b in the portions 1) b of the base-plate which rest upon the ties.

The width of the base-plateis somewhat greater than that of the rail-base, so as to give room for spike-holes on each side of the ties. The central portion 6 of the baseplate is made thinner or narrower than the under portions, preferably somewhat narrower than the rail-base, thus forming shoulders b b at each end of the narrow portion, and between which shoulders lie the jointplates to be hereinafter described. Preferably I form the base-plate of a rectangular piece of metal, pushing down the sides in a die, as indicated at b 1)", these downwardlyturned central flanges strengthening and stiffening the base-plate, and also being broad enough to permit of the formation of boltholes, as indicated at 12 and to afford a better hold for thejaws of the joint-plates I bevel the ends of the flanges inwardly, as shown at b b".

The base-plate indicated in Figs. 4 and 8 is substantially similar to that indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, except that the metal is slit to form the shoulders 19 before the flanges b are turned down at right angles to the central portion I), nor have I shown the bevels b in this modification.

The base-plate shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 has the metal, which in the former figures is turned down to form the flange Z), entirely cut away, and this base-plate also differs from the other forms already described in having in place of the spike-holes b spike-notches If, this construction permitting the base-plate to be securely fastened to the ties and requiring less metal than the other forms. In this form of base-plate I form the bevels b in rolling the plates and they extend as parallel grooves throughout its length.

The base-plate shown in Figs. 8 and 10 is substantially similar to that shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, except that it is made from a plate rolled with projecting sides or flanges, as indicated at If, the rail-base lying between these flanges, as indicated in Fig. 9, and I here omit bevels 19 though they could be used if desired.

O 0 indicate the j oint-plates. These j oint plates are made with an upper flange c, which I in place.

is adapted to lie against or near the upper part of the rail, either the upper part of the web, as shown in Fig. 1, or the lower part of the head, as shown in Figs. 5, S, and 9. Below the flanges c are outwardly-extending flanges 0, adapted to lie upon the rail-base. From the outer ends of these flanges extend downward flanges 0 from the lower ends of which extend the inward flanges or jaws c, which rest beneath and engage the under side of the base-plate entering the bevels b when they are used. The parts are of course proportioned for the rail and base-plate With I which they are used. \Vhen the base-plate is provided with a downwardly-inclined flange b, the flanges'c of the joint-plates rest beneath these flanges, while when no such flange is provided the flanges 0 rest directly on the bottom of the base-plate. the breadth of the joint-plate should be such as to nearly fit between the shoulders 11 of the base-plate.

It is an important feature of my invention that the j oint-plates should each bear upon the under side of the base-plate and upon the top of the rail-base, and they may also bear against the upper part of the rail, and this object is secured when desired by so constructing the joint-plates that they can quite well adapt themselves to a sufficient extent to the form and position of the parts with which they are used. In doing this I avail myself to a certain extent of the elasticity of the metal, preferably forming the under side or contactin face of the flan e c with a sli ht same time should be made so slight as, to.

practically straighten itself out under the stress to which it is subjected. I find it advisable also to make the portion of the flange c from which the flange c springs somewhat thinner than the rest of the flange, so that the metal will bend more readily at this point, permitting the flange c to be drawn inward or pressed outward when the flanges c and 0 have been brought to a fixed and permanent clamping-contact with the base-plate and railbase.

A very slight curvature at the place inclicatcd at c and a very slight thinning of the flange will be suflicient to insure the adjustability of the joint-plate, and in the drawings I have somewhat exaggerated both features for the purpose of making clear and plain the details of constructions to which I have referred.

D D indicate bolts passing through the flanges c c of the joint-plates and through the webs of therails. By means of these bolts the parts are drawn tightly together and held \Vhere a base-plate with downwardly-extending flanges b is used, it is advisable to use also bolts D D, which pass through the flanges 0 as well as the flanges In all cases I I), securing the lower part of the joint-plates together as well as the upper parts.

It will be seen that by the construction described the surface of the rails is secured both by the strength of the base-plate and the strength of the joint-plate. It is obvious, of course, that as the base-plate is secured to the ties and the joint-plates are securely anchored between the shoulders 11 of the baseplates, as well as bolted securely to the webs of the rails, that my joint will effectually pre vent creeping.

The engagement of the jaws c with the bevels b obviously tends to hold them in place against any strains offered by the upper bolts, and in this way the function of the lower bolts is filled in the plates like Fig. 5 and supplemented where such bolts are used.

WVhen it is not desired to. have the jointplates bear against the upper part of the rail, it is not necessary to form the rounded bearing thereon for the upper part of the rail-base nor to make the portion 0 of the flange thinner than the rest of the flange.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as, new, and desire to. secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A rail-joint having in combination a baseplate adapted to lie beneath the abutted rail ends and to besupported and secured at each end on adjacent ties, said base-plate having a narrow central portion 1;, shoulders 11 and inwardly and upwardly extending bevels b", with joint-plates C 0 adapted to fit and engage between the shoulders b of the baseplate, to engage beneath said base-plates in bevelsb and upon the rail-base and to receive the bolts which pass through the railweb, and bolts D passing through the railweb and the upper parts of the joint-plates.

2. A rail-joint having-in combination a baseplate adapted to lie. beneath the abutted rail ends and to be supported and secured at each end on adjacent ties. said base-plate having a narrow central portion 1), downwardlyturned flanges b b and shoulders I)", with joint-plates- C 0 adapted to. fit between the shoulders 11 of the base-plate and to engage beneath the flanges b of said base-plates upon the rail-base and to receive the bolts which pass through the rail-web, bolts D passing through the rail-web and the upper parts of the j oint-plates, and bolts D passing through the flanges b and the lower parts of the jointplates.

3. A rail-joint having in combination a baseplate adapted to lie beneath the abutted rail ends with joint-plates 0 having flanges 0 adapted to fit beneath the base-plate, flanges 0 adapted to receive the bolts which pass through the vertical webs. of the rails and a flange 0 adapted to lie upon the rail-base said flange being made thin at or near its junction with the flange c and boltsD adapted to pass through the webs of the rails and through flanges c.

4. A rail-joint having in combination a baseplate adapted to lie beneath the abutted rail ends With joint-plates 0 having flanges 0 adapted to fit beneath the base-plate, flanges 5 0 adapted to receive the bolts which pass through the Vertical webs of the rails and a flange 0 adapted to lie upon the rail-base the contacting face 0 of said flange being rounded and the flange made thin at or near the junction of the flange o and bolts D adapted 10 to pass through the rail-Webs and through the flanges c of the joint-plates. I

JOHN WILLS CLOUD.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH W. TAY-LOR, FREDK. PAPENBROOK. 

